MOGADISHU (HOL) – It’s just three years ago when Abdifatah Abdirashid Shire, the owner of the popular Sahafi hotel in the Somali capital had move to return home to become heir to the property after his father Abdirashid Shire Ilqeyte was killed by al-Shabab fighters in a complex attack inside the compound in 2015.

Having spent large parts of his life abroad, it was a more challenging task in his home origin that he could barely familiarize himself with, but he had to take it on anyway.

Ads By Google

As his family came to terms with the loss of their father, Abdirashid sadly become another heartbreaking loss for the family again. He was killed in three car bomb blasts that were detonated outside the hotel.

He is among at least 23 people killed in the blasts by al-Shabab which has claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a Somali police officer told AP that Somali security forces shot dead four gunmen who tried to storm through a hole blown into the hotel’s wall but did not succeed in entering.

“Although they failed to access the hotel, the blasts outside the hotel killed many people,” said Hussein.

The European Union (EU) condemned the ‘heinous’ attacks which claimed lives of innocent people.

Maja Kocijancic, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs has extended its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

“Mutual solidarity and unity is essential to defeat terrorism and construct a brighter future for the population of Somalia. At this critical moment for the country, the EU reaffirms its continued commitment to stand by the Somali people to build a stable Somalia,”

Al-Shabaab Islamist militant group claimed the attacks in a statement posted online, saying it was targeting the government and security services.